Central Financing and Contracting Department (CFCD) as part of the Operating Structure for decentralised management of the funds allocated under IPA Components I-IV is responsible to perform its activities in accordance with the provisions of the following regulation:

IPA Implementing Regulation,

Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Commission of the European Communities on the rules for co-operation concerning EU financial assistance to the Republic of Macedonia in the framework of the implementation of the assistance under IPA , and

Decree on Determining Mutual Relations between Bodies and Structures of the Decentralised Management of the First Four Components under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

According to this, CFCD acts as Contracting Authority for IPA Components I-IV and is in charge of tendering, contracting, and payments concerning EU funded projects under DIS in the Republic of Macedonia.

CFCD has the following responsibilities (list not exhaustive):

Tendering;

Contracting;

Contracts Administration;

Monitoring;

Management of CFCD Bank Accounts;

Payments;

Accounting;

Reporting;

HR management;

Management of Irregularities;

Risk Management;

Quality Control;

Supervision over the SPOs / IPA Coordinators in the Line Ministries/Beneficiary Institutions

Respecting Publicity and Visibility Rules.

The Head of CFCD is designated as Programme Authorizing Officer (PAO) for IPA Components I and II, and at the same time as Head of Operating Structure for IPA Components III and IV. PAO/HOS is responsible for the implementation of projects funded under IPA Components I-IV, but delegates tasks to the Line Ministries/ Beneficiary Institutions regarding the technical implementation and monitoring of the contract implementation. The delegation of tasks is regulated with Operational Agreements signed between PAO/HOS and SPO/IPA Coordinators.

Confidentiality and Impartiality

Although the work of CFCD respects the EC transparency, publicity and visibility rules, it is of confidential nature and must not be discussed with third parties, neither during the procurement and contracting phase, nor afterwords.